LEISURE: YULE BIRD COUNTS PLANNED IN AREA

ULLIN, Ill. -- Bird counters will be in the wilds this month to participate in the 100th Christmas Bird Count from Dec. 18 to Jan. 5.

The Cypress Creek Wildlife Refuge will be the first area count on Dec. 18.

The annual bird count was started in December 1900 as a protest to the traditional "bird shoot."

Data from the counts determine changes and trends in bird populations across the nation. Data are sent to the National Audubon Society headquarters in New York.

Bird watchers at all levels of expertise participate in the event, said Liz Jones, a spokeswoman for the Cypress Creek refuge.

More than 30 bird watchers will meet at 5:30 a.m. at Shawnee Community College, Jones said, though some early birds will be in place at 5.

More than 100 species were found during last year's count, which included eagles, barn owls, cardinals, hawks and two loggerhead shrikes. The shrikes are on the endangered list.

Following the daylong count, participants meet at the college for the final tally.

"Every year we try to do a little better in the way of species count and bird totals," said Jones. "Last year we outdid ourselves with a record count of 102 species."

The group had record counts of Redheaded Woodpeckers and Northern Flicker, due to a large acorn crop.

"This year we may have to look harder," Jones said.

A $5 registration fee is required for the count to be eligible for the official list and covers the compilation and printing of the annual report with names of participants.

Area bird counts

Other counts have been scheduled in Southern Illinois in Alexander and Union counties. The Alexander County count will be Dec. 28 at the Horseshoe Lake Refuge near Olive Branch, Ill.

The Union County count will be Dec. 29 at Routes 146 and 3 near Ware, Ill. Other hunts are scheduled at Mermet Lake near Metropolis, Ill., and in Jackson County near Murphysboro, Ill.

The Four Seasons Audubon Society of Southeast Missouri participates in several bird counts during the year, including those at Poplar Bluff, Mo., Mingo Wildlife Refuge near Puxico, Ill., the Trail of Tears State Park north of Cape Girardeau and Big Oak Tree State Park near Charleston, Mo.

The date for the Mingo Christmas count will be Dec. 30, beginning at the Puxico Restaurant.